About Me

Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Manipur Police, Are you street porn downloaders ?

During
this summer vacation, I and Hemanta with few of our Delhi University
mates under the name of a group called Eager Young Minds have been
conducting Science tricks and Magic Shows to desiminate the fun of
Science to all the school going students in Manipur investing money from
our meagre pocket money with a hope to bring out the scientists in them as was trained to us by the scientists at Bose Institute, Kolkata.

Day before yesterday, after having invited Aditya who lives in Kongpal
Kshetri Leikai to join us for the Science Show the next day at Manipur
Science Centre, I and Hemanta were returning home at around 5:30 pm in
the evening. We were suddenly stopped by a gang of 3 commandos
(indicated by their caps) near the Porompat Water supply area with the
question “Is your gari Yamaha?". I was perplexed whether they were
telling us that we were speeding like a Yamaha bike and looked keenly on
them not knowing what to say. In my mind, I was thinking that the speed
we were driving was fairly slow and indeed it was. Suddenly, Hemanta
replied ‘Yes, it is a scooter made by Yamaha Company!." Then they
started checking our bags. There were clothes inside. One of them asked
why there were clothes inside the bag to which I had no answer again.

They told us to take out our mobile phones. I don’t know who has given
them permission to infringe to someone’s privacy in the manner done to
some crime suspects. I was feeling uncomfortable by then already. I
waited patiently to watch the whole drama. Nothing happened yet!!!

After that we were asked to bring out the driving and vehicular
license. I was again surprised whether they are some traffic police or
has our vehicle been booked for some crime in the past. Nevertheless
Hemanta showed his driving license and as ill luck would have it, the
vehicular license (smart card) was forgotten along with his wallet at
home. Then Hemanta tried calling home to bring the smart card license in
which our phones were confiscated and kept aside with a warning never
to call anyone.

The next turn of incident was to park our
vehicle in a corner and one of them taking the vehicle key. They
threatened that we would be taken to the DC if we don’t give some money
to them. We agreed to meet the DC knowing the fact that they don’t have
the authority to issue any TR (Traffic Records) Challan. We waited for 2
long hours never to be taken to the DC.

Vehicle key
confiscated, phones not allowed to be touched and it was getting really
dark…must be around 8 pm. One mildly spoken Commando among them came
near us, asked about our family background and started telling us about
the crimes in Manipur and the way in which we could be killed in a fake
encounter. The second story was how they do their duty standing in the
sun checking everyone for the whole day,telling that they need some
money to have something. Next, he took out his mobile and showed us the
local porn videos they caught from the public. By then, we start to
understand why they checked our phones.

To him, it seems we
have all the patience to hear all his crap. Then, I suddenly proclaimed
to pay whatever fine the Govt. has established if they show us the
concerned authority letter with the amount of fine. In this, one of them
threatened us to roll on the road naked. I was furious already with a
doubt in my mind whether they are VDF( Village Defence Force) or Real
Commandos. Again Porompat is not a village afterall and they weren't
with 303 rifle which VDFs usually hold but some other SLR ( Single
Loading Rifle). Without thinking much of the consequence, I questioned
their identity as they don't have any name plate on the chest or
shoulder tag though all have a Commando cap with one of them having a MP
(Manipur Police) shoulder tag. In this, One tried to slap me and said I
would be a dead meat already if it were some other commandos. Hemanta
was trying to calm me down. I stood firmly never to pay them any money
if they aren't issuing us a challan by telling the fact that we ll be
haulted by some other group in the same manner after few distance if we
don't show them the challan. I was keen on meeting the DC to put down my
grievances.

By then, it was 9 pm already. Hemanta
Phurailatpam was constantly reminding me that we are having a big day
the next day and we don't have enough time to waste around as we gotta
prepare for it. He started negotiating to pay few amount while I was
looking at the triggers of the guns. I have already decided to snatch
and shoot them before any untoward incident is about to occur. Better
become a criminal than to come out in the morning news as a dead meat
with a fake encounter tag over my forehead, I thought. Hemanta dragged
me and we drove off after the ordeal.

If there is any sincere
Police officer in the state hearing me out there, what I want to
conclude is that a student who has come for vacation back to the state
just to give some community service could have become an item of the
morning news or a criminal overnight if these behaviours of your boys
continue. If they are VDFs, these Govt. approved professional goons is a
disgrace to the Commandos too because they are using your caps. Here I
want to ask few questions : Does the Department is short of dress for
them(some of them with no name plate or shoulder tag) ? or hasn't it
specify their duty (some of them performing traffic police duty with no
challan) ? or is there no one in the department to keep a check on their
rampage? Are they porn video downloader the department has sent out on
the street because there is no good 3G service in Imphal or are they so
poor to buy a data plan ( some of them keeping the caught videos on
their own phones)? Has the Department not pay them enough because they
spoke in such a way they never had a full stomach before we drove off
(Noi dada singgi chana thaknaba khara touramadi ngasaaina thadokpi
yaabni) ?

Keeping aside the feeling of being secured of having
them, they have created more inconveniences. The incident has shocked me
and put me in a sour mood the rest of the day. But the Porompat
incident definitely left a huge scar on my faith in Manipur Police. And
that puts me in a quandry because I don't know what to do now- Shall I
file a complaint the consequence of which will be useless as I am just a
student busy with this Science project or Will booking an FIR teach a
lesson to other policemen or shall I just ignore it knowing nothing
will ever happen again? And then wait for some girl or a poor guy to be a
victim may be tomorrow or day after tomorrow?

Thinking about
it for some time, I now know exactly what I must do. Let's do away with
all the anger and hurt and pain. Let's reconcile doing it the Norwegian
way, the way Kima did in Mumbai.

So here is me, Rocky sending
out this open letter to those 3 street smart VDF( acting commandos) to
cordially invite you for a lunch(to fill your stomachs full atleast)
and discuss about this issue. I really want to tell you how many
manipuris are trying hard to bring the standard of its people at par
with other states. I want to explain how that simple incident can turn
into something unwanted ( for both parties) if you happen to meet
another more furious Rocky with no friend to calm down. I really want to
tell you how your acts are detrimental to the youths who want to come
back and serve the society. I want to explain you why many brainy
wizards have settled down outside the state and never to come back
again. Let's sit to prevent that, shall we ? Peace.

I know this
invitation may not even reach the eyes of your hundredth cousin because
I am just a speck in this jungle of bigger chaos and lawlessness, but
atleast this soul is willing to give it a try. And knowing I tried will
at least make me sleep better tonight as i wasn't able to, the past two
nights.